Coughlin and Eli, come on down (to Canton)

Posted on: February 5, 2012 9:54 pm

INDIANAPOLIS -- It's time to consider that maybe New England's Bill Belichick isn't the greatest active coach in the NFL. Yes he has three Super Bowl rings, and three is bigger than two, and Giants coach Tom Coughlin has just two Super Bowl rings.

But Coughlin won both his Super Bowl rings against Belichick, the second coming Sunday night, a 21-17 victory in Super Bowl XLVI.

Three is more than two. We all know that. But head-to-head matters. It must. And head to head, in the most important game in the NFL, the score is Tom Coughlin 2, Bill Belichick 0.

That is not a fluke. That is a trend. And a fact. And a symbol, perhaps, that Coughlin deserves to be considered up there with Belichick as the greatest coach of this era. And seeing how Belichick has been mentioned -- and rightly so -- as one of the greatest coaches of all time ...

That means Tom Coughlin must be mentioned -- and rightly so -- as one of the greatest coaches of all time.

That is the power of the Super Bowl. It shapes legacies -- crushing some, burnishing others. The Super Bowl has burnished the legacy of Coughlin, just as it has burnished the legacy of his quarterback, Eli Manning.

I insist that Peyton, even with one Super Bowl, is better than Eli -- but Eli is a Hall of Famer, right now. If he retires tomorrow, if he never plays again, Eli is a Hall of Famer. So is Tom Coughlin.

So is former Coughlin boss Bill Parcells, for that matter. Parcells didn't make it into the Hall this weekend, but that's an oversight to be corrected another day. And then another day, years later, Coughlin will join his mentor in the Hall of Fame.

Such is the power of the Super Bowl. Such is what Coughlin has accomplished, at the expense of Bill Belichick.

Coughlin and Eli, come on down (to Canton)

Only 11 Quarterbacks in the history of the NFL have won multiple Super Bowl rings, 7 are in the Hall of Fame, 3 are still playing (Tom Brady, Ben Roethlisberger, and Eli Manning). Only Jim Plunkett won multiple Super Bowl rings and did not get into the Hall of Fame. Brady is a sure bet first ballot Hall of Famer, Big Ben probably gets in, so why is there even a debate about Eli. Tom "The Sure Bet" Brady is 3-2 in the Super Bowl, both losses are to Eli Manning. He gets in without question; I wouldn’t be surprised to see him get some more hardware before it's all over. A third ring would defiantly end that debate, only 4 QB's in history have 3 or more rings (Montana, Aikman, Bradshaw, and Brady), Young can have an asterisk if you want, but I only counted wins as a starter, Young has 3 rings, but 2 were as Montana's backup, so I don't think they bear weight on Hall of Fame consideration. Eli has to get in based on success alone. Numbers are great, and can get you in the Hall of Fame, but nobody can argue the fact that he has been one of the most successful QB's of his generation.

Coaches are another story, there are quite a few coaches with multiple Super Bowl wins not in the Hall of Fame (Parcells, Flores, Johnson, Seifert), three more are active (Shanahan, Belichick, & Coughlin), Belichick is in for sure, 3 rings, and five appearances in a 10 year span, and he's still going. Shanahan is a coin-flip he could get in, he could get left out. Coughlin is probably in the same boat as Shanahan, a coin flip, another ring would lock him into Canton, every coach (except Belichick) with 3 or more rings is enshrined in Canton, and Belichick will be too. Parcells will most likely get in eventually, as he deserves to be in Canton, Flores is forever out, as is Seifert. Johnson, in my opinion belongs in the Hall of Fame, but ultimately may not have coached in the NFL long enough to warrant inclusion.

Both Eli Manning and Tom Coughlin have proven they are worthy of being enshrined in Canton, but ultimately it's more political than anything else and only time will really tell, one more ring by either would lock them into Canton, Eli has a realistic shot, and depending on whether Coughlin keeps coaching or retires, I think he does too. They would both be better off if they could win a Super Bowl against anybody but the Patriots. I saw a joke on Facebook that had Eli Manning, and the words "I may not go to Super Bowl every year, but when i do go, I beat the Patriots". It’s funny, and true, but unfairly, could adversely affect their chances at getting into Canton, despite the fact that they really have no control over whom they play.

Since: Oct 16, 2007

Posted on: February 12, 2012 7:29 pm

Coughlin and Eli, come on down (to Canton)

Two ways to the Hall, I guess, numbers or rings. Eli's getting there on rings. His numbers aren't too bad but isn't Marino in the Hall? Barry Sanders? Interesting. Peyton has ring but his brother has rings. Peyton will probably get in on his numbers, Eli on his rings. Their dad? Just enjoying the moments.

Since: Aug 24, 2006

Posted on: February 12, 2012 3:49 am

Coughlin and Eli, come on down (to Canton)

nytofla, you are just the stupid kind of fool I look to punk.

I don't live in Dallas moron. I don't have a coaching staff or a defense.

But mostly since I have Kurt Warner stating my very words, it clear that you are a total jerk and JackAzz!

Eli does not pick on one player or find a weakness. He goes after anyone, even a teams best corner. You should try watching the damn games sometime.

And by the way for Dallas, I have seen that NBA title over there, dummy.

Since: Sep 8, 2008

Posted on: February 8, 2012 10:26 pm

Coughlin and Eli, come on down (to Canton)

Another Super Bowl and Eli is among the greatest QBs ever. No two time super bowl mvp has been left out of the hall up to now. I doubt Eli is the first.

Since: Nov 20, 2006

Posted on: February 7, 2012 12:26 pm

Coughlin and Eli, come on down (to Canton)

I will admit that I like Eli but lets not put him in Canton just yet. Lets be honest, Eli hasn't even been in the top 5 quarterbacks of his generation from year to year except perhaps this year. Peyton, Brady, Brees, Rogers, Big Ben, and even Rivers have been better every year since Eli has been in the league. Shouldn't a HOF be in the top echelon of his generation? The answer is yes and Eli doesn't yet qualify. He needs another 4-5 elite years and perhaps another Super Bowl.

bigbangtheory17
Since: Jan 27, 2012

Posted on: February 6, 2012 8:39 pm

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bigbangtheory17
Since: Jan 27, 2012

Posted on: February 6, 2012 8:37 pm

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Since: Dec 24, 2011

Posted on: February 6, 2012 8:18 pm

Coughlin and Eli, come on down (to Canton)

The Colts appear ready to draft Luck but the Giants appear to have drafted Lady Luck who was the MVP for them in their last two games. I have never seen a luckier team than the Giants. Yes, they won and I tip my hat to them but my hat would be tipping anyway from all the shaking my head is doing while I look back at all the luck NY received in their last two games.

Since: Sep 11, 2006

Posted on: February 6, 2012 8:10 pm

Coughlin and Eli, come on down (to Canton)

Redwing, I said statistically Eli compares to *some* HOF QB's already, I did not mention Montana or Marino.

I mentioned many other things about Eli which you completely ignored, which goes to show you are indeed someone who refuses to give Eli the credit he deserves. If you want to ignore 2 Super Bowls, 2 Super Bowl MVP's, his playoff road record and his 4th quarter performances, by all means do so. It just proves my point. HOF is about a lot more than any one thing. Stats are a part of it, but not all of it. Rings, MVP's, intangibles, leadership and other things all factor into the HOF equation.

To say Eli missing the playoffs 2 and 3 years at a time doesn't cut it is laughable for so many reasons. First and foremost being that Eli has never gone 3 years at a time missing the playoffs. And he's only missed the playoffs 2 years in a row one time and in one of thsoe seasons the Giants were 10-6.

The QB rating? That's fine to say when you're talking about a QB who has never won a Super Bowl, or maybe even when you're talking about a Trent Dilfer type QB who won one Super Bowl. But a two time Super Bowl winner? Who is 8-3 in the playoffs including Super Bowls? With 5 playoff road victories? Please.

Sorry dude, it's time to give Eli the credit he deserves. The BS nonsense Eli got after his first Super Bowl victory where everyone said he was just lucky and made all sorts of other lame excuses doesn't fly anymore.

Since: Jan 19, 2009

Posted on: February 6, 2012 7:33 pm

Coughlin and Eli, come on down (to Canton)

sigma, you are exactly the stupid Cowboy that Eli picks on. He always looks for someone who knows nothing about the game of football and picks on him. As a Cowboy fan, that might include not only your entire defense, but your sorry coaching staff. Also, on the plus side, Eli knows that your offense blows and Roma can't play a lick when it matters. Therefore Eli and the Giants have proven that most of you in Dallas, the City of losers, dfon't have a clue!